Madding Crowd and Sheepdip?

[Gastines]

Whilst having the pleasure of watching "Far from the Madding Crowd"from Thomas Hardy's book, there is a scene where the farm hands are actually in the Sheep dip , whilst dipping the sheep,. I seem to remember some big scare a few years back that the solution used was carcenogenic. My wife who usually gets about 5+ times my score on University Challenge, says it's news to her. Am I correct?

Watching the film was a pleasure,to be able to hear what the actors were saying,no crashing overwhelming music,no police sirens/car chases and a reminder of Dorset, Troytown etc. Slightly different now, Dorset and the films.

Regards.

[Graham & Brenda]

I believe that you may be referring to "organo phosphates" . It was heavily debated on "Farming Today" which we listened to sometimes. However for more info you need an expert to post, or you can "google" organo phosphates for more info.

[Missy]

Sheep dipping ain't for the fainthearted! 

Organophosphates are one of the many chemical compounds of the sheep dip stuff which you put into the 'bath/dip' for the sheep. That was supposed to have caused problems to farmers using it with illness such as skin rash (where it splashed onto unprotected areas of skin) severe depression (some farmers committing suicide) lethargy and extreme fatigue (sort of the farming equivalent of the yuppy flu).

These organo phosphate have been taken off sale for this kind of 'spring wash' and sheep dipping is now a very rare occurence. Unfortunate at it was meant to kill the eggs and larvaes and crippy crawlies that had settle inside the fleeces of the animals and were causing them extreme discomfort.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep_dip

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/765742.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/572960.stm

Anyway in Thomas Hardy's time did they worry about all that health & safety lark?... and I don't think they would have had that chemical solution available then  ...